In a surprising move, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has brought former leader David Cameron back into the political fold by appointing him as the foreign minister. The reshuffle was triggered by Sunak's dismissal of interior minister Suella Braverman, who had criticized the police and thereby undermined Sunak's authority. This reshuffle comes at a crucial time for Sunak, as his Conservative Party is currently trailing behind the Labour Party in the polls ahead of the expected upcoming election.
Cameron's return to the political scene suggests that Sunak aims to bring in a more centrist and experienced figure, rather than appease the populist right-wing faction of his party that supported Braverman. However, the reappointment of Cameron also reopens the divisive debate surrounding Brexit. Cameron, who held the referendum on EU membership in 2016 and campaigned to remain, was disliked by many within his party, particularly those on the right. He stepped down shortly after the majority of the UK voted to leave the EU.
This ministerial reshuffle comes in response to growing criticism of Braverman from opposition lawmakers and members of the governing Conservatives. Sunak saw an opportunity to bring in his allies and remove ministers that he believed were not performing effectively. Braverman's defiance of Sunak in an unauthorized article, where she accused the police of "double standards" at protests, was the final straw that led to her dismissal. Her comments were seen to have exacerbated tensions between pro-Palestinian demonstrations and a far-right counter protest, resulting in numerous arrests.
While Braverman's removal was anticipated, it was Cameron's appointment that shocked the party members. Centrist lawmakers welcomed the decision, while those on the right regarded it as the ultimate "Brexit surrender". Cameron, however, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to return to public service and assured reporters that he would align with the government's stance, despite his occasional disagreements with Sunak in the past. Cameron has been absent from politics since 2016 and will now be able to reengage in government through an appointment to the House of Lords.
Sunak's press secretary stated that the reshuffle was aimed at creating a "strong, united team that will be focused on delivery", as the government faced criticism for failing to fulfill some of its pledges. Nevertheless, Cameron's return has fueled the anger of some right-wing members, following Braverman's dismissal. They expressed concerns that the "remain" wing of the party has taken control and questioned how Sunak could bring back someone who was recently criticized for lobbying the government while working for a collapsed finance firm.
It is worth noting that there have been calls for a vote of no confidence in Sunak from some members on the right of the party, including lawmaker Andrea Jenkyns. They accuse Sunak of orchestrating the ousting of former prime minister Boris Johnson and purging the center-right from his cabinet. To trigger a leadership challenge, 53 out of the 350 Conservative lawmakers must submit letters of no confidence to the chairman of the 1922 Committee.
With Braverman no longer in the spotlight, there is speculation that she might be preparing for a potential future leadership bid within the party, especially if the Conservatives are projected to lose the expected upcoming election. Labour has consistently maintained a lead of around 20 points in the polls, and Sunak has struggled to narrow that gap. His attempt to present himself as a beacon of change during his party conference last month was overshadowed by a poorly communicated decision to cancel a major rail project.
Labour, seizing the opportunity to criticize Sunak's leadership, has labeled his appointment of Cameron as an act of desperation. Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign coordinator, remarked, "A few weeks ago Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status quo, now he’s bringing him back as his life raft." This move, according to McFadden, undermines Sunak's claim to offer change after 13 years of Tory failure.